Rising Storm

Many tales there have been about Equestria.

Some close to the story we all know and love, others radically different. There are versions, and timelines that many of us do not know of. Stories that may never be told, and songs of villains and heroes that might never be heard.

One such story, I have chosen to tell...

Bear in mind, should you come for a story that tells the story of the elements of harmony, and the magic of friendship as you might know it, then I dare say you will be disappointed. In fact a great many things in this story are very different from how you may know it.

But that is why I have written this introduction, to educate you a bit before you delve into this tale. I shall strive to make it short, but informative, as I know you might be eager to read on, but please humor me as I tell you about the world as it is.

It starts, as it must, with our lady herself.

In the void our great lady Faust spoke the words, and from that the universe was created. In her wisdom she created the stars, the world, and everything that was to make the first living being comfortable. From the greenest forests, to the deepest oceans, and highest mountains. Everything was as she willed it.

However as it is with every light in the world, a shadow must be cast, and from the shadow of our great lady, a creature was born. For as Faust was order and creation, this creature was chaos and destruction. It was from this creature that evil was made.

Faust had many children, but her first born was her favorite. It was he who got the task to prepare the world for the mortals that would live there. Taking mortal form, he descended to the world, and prepared a great city made from crystals.

Once it was ready, Faust made the first living beings, animals and beasts to roam the land. fish to inhabit the sea and rivers, birds to inhabit the sky, and all manners of animals to fill the forests and the earth.

Lastly, she made the first ponies, three tribes, sculpted after the traits of herself and her children.

Unicorns, born with the gift to tab into magic. Pegasi, blessed with wings to fly in the neverending sky. And finally the earth ponies, who have a deep connection to the soil, and all that sprang from it.

These first mortals were born fully grown, naked of mind, like the newborns that they were. Faust's first born took them in, kept them in the city of crystal until they were ready to go out and make the world outside the walls their home.

Wanting a perfect world for her creations to live in, Lady Faust sent down six spirits to act as teachers. They were the last of her children, the youngest, but they possessed every virtue that Faust wanted to teach her creation so they could live in perfect harmony.

Magic, Loyalty, Kindness, Generosity, Honesty, and Laughter. The six siblings joined the first born in the shining city, acting as teachers, and shaped the minds of the first mortals. It was good, the life was peaceful, and the first born stood as a shining beacon to the mortals that looked up to him and the six.

But it is here a serpent enters their midst. In the shadow of the great lady herself, the chaotic demon snuck down to the new world and spoke to the first born.

"Why do you stay on your throne?" The demon asked.

"It is where I am meant to sit." He replied. "It is my purpose."

"But you who have built this great city, surely there is more you wish to create."

"It is not for me to decide," answered the first born. "I am merely an instrument of my lady's will."

"But you are her favorite," the demon pressed. "She would not only send you here to be a passive guardian. When the time comes, don't you wish to honor her by your own designs, and leave your mark?"

Of course the first born wanted that, but he could not act upon his desires. And so the demon said to him, "if all is her will, then surely your desire to create is something she placed within you. If so, then that must be her will."

With these words, the first born was convinced, and he left his throne to recreate the masterwork of his mother. However his attempts were a cruel imitation, created from other living things, a far cry from what these creatures would later become. They could move, and act alive, but they were nothing without the breath of life, no soul or heart, no thought or will.

Disappointed, but forgiving, Faust spoke to her first born. She told him that these beings of his could never live as they were, but she would grant them true shape and life. However in doing so, the first born had to swear to return to his duties, and that these beings were to sleep until the day arrived that mortals were to inhabit the world.

The first born agreed, and Faust gave the beings shape, life, and put them into a long sleep before scattering them across the world.

That should have been the end, but the first born had tried his hand at creation, and having them a part of this world made him proud. It was a trait the trickster demon could exploit, and in the shadows he whispered in his ear, fueling his ego, and nurturing his ambition.

The demon claimed that it was the first born who had been chosen to look after these mortals, so naturally he should be the one they worshiped. His siblings should take directions from him, and not from their mother. For a year this went on, and with each passing day, the first born's ambition grew, so did his pride, and his darkness.

With the day of awaking approaching, the demon urged the first born to act. Once the ponies passed the gates, he and his siblings would be called back to their lady.

So one evening the first born invited the six virtues to his palace. Being nothing but trusting towards the lady's favorite, they came willingly, not expecting betrayal.

There in the home of their brother, they were deceived. He captured them, and destroyed their mortal forms. Their screams of anguish echoed through the city, and the world, waking the slumbering beings he himself had helped create. Since their very being could not be killed, the first born cursed them to be chained to the world, unable to reach the heavens, and unable to reform their mortal bodies.

This final act of cruelty made the world shake in outrage, making the crystal walls crack around the city. The ponies without their teachers felt fear for the first time in their life. They lashed out, blaming each other for this bad omen, and turned against those who were not like them.

Unicorns blasted their way through the wall, Pegasi flew off to hide in the clouds, and the earth ponies destroyed the gates to escape the city. The once beautiful city, meant to shelter the first mortals, was falling apart, and being turned to ruins.

Faust was beyond angry, and spoke to her first born.

"Thou hast betrayed the task that was bestowed upon thee. Now my world cries from the blood spilt from thy siblings, and thou art tainted by the darkness thou hath nurtured within thee. Hear me, first born! Thou ist cast from my side, and shalt not return until such time thy spirit has been purged by the power of the heaven and the earth. Only when those thou betrayed stand to witness this, thou shall be nothing more than shadow. Deaf to my voice, and blind to my presence. Until that day, thou art cast out."

And so it was that the first born was cast out, and left without anyone by his side, not even the demon that had corrupted him.

It was this that ended the first age, and thus the second began.

The second age was an age of exploration, settlement, division, and chaos. Those were dark times, as all races, pony or otherwise distrusted one another.

Those who found themselves in the mountains, found a love for digging tunnels, find shiny stones, and hoarding their treasures. They were strong, and hardy, and took on the name Diamond dogs. They made their mountains and mines their home, preferring not to deal with the world of the open sky, and those who lived there.

Others found comfort in the deepest woods, making their homes among the trees and the plants they cared for. The Deer folk were proud and regal, even in those days. They perfected the art of medicine, and turned their focus to balance and care for the forests.

A race that stood out early on was the Griffons. They were harsh and brutal people, but not without a sense of honor, in their own way. Living in the cold north, they became hardened, and fierce warriors, who's life seemed to be an endless battle.

There were more of course, some you might know, and others you might not. I could tell you more about them, but I think that is best left to another book. But in the chaotic start the world had gotten, more life soon followed, sprung out of the chaos.

For a thousand years, life found its way, and creatures learned their place. The ponies separated, creating their own lands, tribes, and clans. What they all shared though was the fear of others. Unicorns, Pegasi, and earth ponies did not mix, although sometimes some unsteady trade did take place between them.

This did not please our lady, as the world she had envisioned was full of fear and distrust, the lessons of the six virtues forgotten.

But then something happened that our lady had not expected. An earth pony, a lord of the Freelands as it was called back then, showed our lady hope for the future. The stallion was young and in his prime, beloved by his subjects, and his kindness seemed never ending.

On a midsummer's morning he came across a beautiful and elegant unicorn mare. She'd been wounded traveling the lands, an attack from a wild beast. The young lord took pity on her, and he took her back to his home. He showed her kindness, and made sure she was taken care of.

This act of generosity filled our lady with hope, which only bloomed as time went on. The two married, and despite some reservations from some in his court, the kingdom celebrated the union.

Seeing a chance to put the world right again, Faust sent one of her children down to the world to bless the union of the two. The messenger took the form of an older stallion, his beard full and slightly curly. Starswirl he was called. He came to the court of the king and his newly pregnant wife, and shared with them the good news.

Faust had blessed their union, and so their two children would be blessed with all three traits of the tribes. That they had been chosen for a higher purpose.

At first, the king and queen did not believe the old stallion, but they let him leave unpunished for his declaration. Months later, as the sun rose signaling a new day, their first child was brought into the world. As the sun shone through the windows, the filly was shown to have not only wings, but a horn too.

This was not the only blessing Faust had given their first born. A mark of the sun had been left on her, a mark such as hers had not yet been seen on ponies, their daughter was the first. They called her Celestia, in honor of both the great mother of us all, but also the sun.

Five years later, when the moon was rising above the world, their second daughter was born. Like Celestia, she was born with a mark as well, but this of the moon, and so they called her Luna.

Ponies from far and near were amazed at the birth of not one, but two fillies born with all three traits of their kind. They were called Alicorns, and suddenly ponies started to migrate to the Freelands, just to be near the sisters.

It was then that Starswirl appeared again in the king's court, and this time they listened. Starswirl informed them of the great purpose their daughters had been called to serve, and that he would see to their education, so they were prepared for whatever trials might lay ahead.

And so it was that Starswirl came to live in the mortal world, mentoring the two sisters, teaching them about magic, about harmony, the virtues, and much more.

Many years later, when the princesses were ready, Starswirl gave them one final task. They were to raise the sun and moon, with Celestia taking charge of the day, and Luna being the watcher of the night. To all that had gathered saw how Luna lowered the moon, giving way for Celestia to raise the sun.

All who attended stood in aw, as thereafter the day had never been so bright, and night never so beautiful. On this fateful day, the kingdom of Equestria was born, and so started the third age.

This was an age of relative peace. War broke out between factions, or other kingdoms, as Equestria and the rest of the land found their borders, and cemented their claims. It was an age of growth, expansion, and construction. The castle in the Freelands left for the forest to claim, and the rulers of the realm moved into the great city of Canterlot.

Hundreds of years passed, with Equestria thriving, even in the hardest of times. Through the guidance of the alicorn sisters, the world finally seemed to come through the chaos, and headed for harmony.

There was even a new Alicorn chosen, Cadance, the princess of love.

But the brighter the light, the darker the shadow grows. For two thousand years, the first born gathered his strength. Far from prying eyes, he corrupted land that he made his own, and took a mortal name. Sombra, a name uttered in fear by any who had heard of him.

Soon enough, all would know his name, and the lands that had basked in the glory of Faust would e cast into his darkness. War would come soon, but he waited for the right time, and when it came, he would strike.

But something happened that the dark lord never expected. Faust herself came into the world in the mortal body of a unicorn mare. Beautiful, elegant, and serene. She traveled the world, and for the first time experienced life as a mortal in the world she had created.

She saw great cities, and humble towns. The greatest mountain, and the deepest forest. She sailed the ocean, and met all kinds of creatures across her travels, even some that had come to be on their own in the chaos of life.

It was then that she came across a small village, at the farthest edge of Equestria's borders. A simple place, far removed from the troubles of the world it seemed. It was here she met a stallion blacksmith, brilliant, young, and humble. A mortal she had never laid eyes upon before.

Faust became fascinated by the things he created, as he had such skills to create works of art, but instead put his effort into simple nails, wagon wheels, and other things the village needed.

Maybe it was her mortal heart speaking, but she was utterly captivated by this stallion. He who could become the most famous artisan in the land, and live a rich life in the most beautiful city of his choice, chose to spend his days in this remote village. Content in his quiet peaceful life.

We don't know much from that time, but we know she approached him, and for the next six years they stayed together, and they were happy.

Sadly, some things are not meant to last, and despite her mortal wants, our lady could not stay with us. One day she left her stallion, and her newborn son. It is said her last moments in the mortal world were spent watching over her son and love, letting a few divine tears fall from her eyes before she vanished.

Even a divine being such as her cannot stop the wheels of fate from turning. The enemy was making their first moves, and soon the entire world's fate would be decided.

So now you know the history of the world. Of course, a three thousand year history can hardly be fully explained in this humble introduction.

I have not told you how the Changelings came to be, or how the Storm King came by his army. I could tell you stories about the Alicorn sister's childhood, or the great age of expansion. There are stories to be told about the sister's parents, or the six years Faust stayed with her humble blacksmith.

But all of this is stories for another time, as our story takes place at the end of the third age of this world. War had come to Equestria, in an unholy alliance between the Dark Lord, the Changeling Queen, and the Storm King. A lot has been lost already as our tale begins, and it is a most desperate time for the Alicorn sisters.

It is not with them that our story will begin, but at that little village far from the troubles of the bigger world. Our tale shall begin with the son of a blacksmith, and his call to face his destiny.